Zoinks! It's the Portsmouth Comic Book Show

Sunday

Nov 9, 2008 at 2:00 AM

Lily Robertson

When many folks think of comic books, they envision little boys sprawled on the floor, their Converse-covered feet wagging in the air, pointy little elbows planted on the floor as they flip wide-eyed through an adventure with the Caped Crusader.

A long time ago, that would be a pretty accurate picture. Like most things though, comic books ain't what they used to be. Yes, our old favorites are still web slinging, throwing their mighty shields, dropping down from Valhalla, and making rapid response calls from the Bat Cave, but even they have evolved.

We start out with our favorites. They may be Archie, or a Disney variety. For my son, it was "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." This was after they'd had a Saturday morning cartoon and toned down the intense violence in the original comic. I was fine with the diluted version, and I only had to learn four guys, a rat, a reporter, and one villain.

Unfortunately, his next favorite were the "X-Men." Does anyone have any idea how many "X-Men" there are? You could fill Fenway with the villain side alone and still have enough guys left over to vend hot dogs.

My first love was Batman. I saved boxtops and sent away for a see-around-the-corner Batscope. I had it for three days before my folks realized it actually worked. The Batscope mysteriously vanished in the night. I suspected the work of the Penguin. Although I left him for Peter Parker, my ring tone is still the theme from Batman.

Did you know that Spider-Man got tired of struggling to alone and still have enough guys left over to vend hot dogs.

My first love was Batman. I saved boxtops and sent away for a see-around-the-corner Batscope. I had it for three days before my folks realized it actually worked. The Batscope mysteriously vanished in the night. I suspected the work of the Penguin. Although I left him for Peter Parker, my ring tone is still the theme from Batman.

Did you know that Spider-Man got tired of struggling to make the rent, sold all

photos to J. Jonah Jameson, turned yuppie, married Mary Jane, and then had his entire sell-out years erased? He's had a busy life, that Peter Parker. Evolution, baby, evolution.

Ralph DiBernardo, the promoter of the Portsmouth Comic Book Show and Writer's Festival — being held Sunday, Nov. 16 — was first taken in by "The Fantastic Four." "It was really cool because they were a superhero family. They had to deal with all the typical family stuff, plus fight bad guys. One of the team was a teenager so it was fun to relate to him ...; thinking I could grow up to be as cool as him."

DiBernardo did manage to become as cool as him, but he failed in his quest to grow up. And holy hand grenades, the Seacoast should be thankful. He's run two comic book shops, the current one is in Rochester (Jetpack Comics), opened his own small press, and encouraged young artists to bring new life to an industry that grows more brilliant with each passing year. The combination of story and artwork in comic books and graphic novels today is like coupling H.P. Lovecraft with Picasso. From this we get titles like "Arkham" and "Locke and Key." Imagine Renoir working with Jane Austen on "Pride and Prejudice." Maybe "Love and Rockets" will spin your spurs.

Or, if you're of a more practical bent, picture Leonardo da Vinci doing the diagrams on a Bob Villa do-it-yourself project. There's something for everyone. Comic books aren't just for kids anymore.

What's truly amazing is the fact that the once beloved comic book industry is getting overlooked now. Kids will play video games for hours, with no idea that "The Punisher" and "Resident Evil" started out in comic book form. Grown-ups flocked to theaters to watch "The Terminator," unaware he was once rolled up and stuffed into a kid's back pocket.

DiBernardo would like to change that. He's inviting us all to be kids again. Not only has he left a trail of passes to the comic book show in book stores all over the area, he's invited librarians and educators to show up half an hour before it opens for a special preview. While he'd like the show to financially cover itself, the exposure for the new story tellers and artists is his primary concern.

"Most Comic-Cons are shopping experiences," says DiBernardo. "What's unique about this one is that we'll have a greater ratio of creators than vendors."

The list of locals should make us all proud. "Atomic Robo" creator Scott Wegener earned an Eisner Award nomination for his first professional effort. Dover publisher Severed Head Comics features the work of Dan Drew, who you may know from his work on "The Gay Bride of Frankenstein." Joe Piscopo from Portland, Maine, will be there with his charming, child-friendly, "Capt'n Eli" series. Rich Woodall and Matt Talbot, the genius behind the just plain fun "Johnny Raygun" series will be there. (You gotta love a dysfunctional duo that comes up with characters like H2Olaf and Ninja Zombie.) Get in line to have a copy of "Locke and Key" autographed by Joe Hill, then race (Zing! Pop!) over to catch a word with "Hellboy" writer Christopher Golden. The list of folks eagerly waiting to meet you goes on and on.

Know an aspiring artist? Bob Shaw of Serendipity Art Sales and Comic Art House wants to see your stuff.

The guest of honor, David Peterson, completely floored me with his astonishing "Mouse Guard" series. It's already won two Eisner awards and is well on its way to the same level of renown enjoyed by "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," which DiBernardo premiered at a Portsmouth Comic Book Show 25 years ago. The artwork in "Mouse Guard" will take your breath away, and the story is written with brave, simple eloquence. "It matters not what you fight, but what you fight for."

Jump into a phone booth, don your imaginary capes and masks, then walk your shiny form-fitting boots to the Portsmouth Comic Book Show and Writer's Festival. You never know who you'll meet. Oh, and don't forget to bring the kids.

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